The residents of Bacon Retirement Community, a low income retirement community in Church Hill have spent months without hot water, inadequate heating during the coldest months of the year, and a lack of response from property management. Jasmine Howell, whose father, Leonard Howell, is a resident, recently spoke to us about the ongoing neglect, which has led to protests from family members and concerned community members.
A video recorded by concerned family member Celestine Harvey, whose mother is a resident, recently surfaced. In the footage, she speaks with Mr. Howell about the poor living conditions at Bacon Retirement Community. Another video captures her confronting management about residents enduring up to three months without hot water, forcing them to take cold showers or let water run for extended periods in hopes of getting warmth. Some residents have even resorted to using space heaters and ovens to heat their apartments.
“I called 611, the city emergency line about these issues, and was told there was nothing they could do because it is a privately owned multi-family facility,” Jasmine Howell said. “That was odd to me, because I’ve been able to call them for issues at my own apartment. What makes this any different?”
Bacon Retirement Home is owned by Main Street Realty, and while the facility provides affordable housing for low-income seniors, it appears that basic needs are being ignored.
Unanswered Maintenance Requests and Poor Living Conditions
The lack of heat and hot water is only part of the problem. Residents have reported that the property is running on a single industrial water heater, which is not sufficient for the entire building. The heating issues are even worse for residents on fixed incomes, many of whom rely on Social Security.
Beyond utilities, Howell described a series of other serious concerns:
- A collapsing ceiling from a burst water pipe with instances of pipes bursting on 3 different floors.
- Recurring flooding on the first floor, leaving a persistent stench of sewage.
- Reports of bed bugs, fleas and roaches infestations.
- An unreliable elevator, making it difficult for elderly and disabled residents to get around.
A protest organized by Howell and another resident’s daughter was met with further resistance from management. “The property manager abruptly canceled a meeting with residents when they started voicing their concerns,” Howell said. That video can be seen HERE.
A Lack of Oversight and City Response
Following the protest, the video gained traction, eventually reaching Richmond City Council member Cynthia Newbille. In response, Newbille held a meeting with Main Street Realty and property managers yesterday—without allowing family members to attend.
A statement to Jasmine Howell from Newbille’s office read: “I requested a meeting with residents of Bacon Retirement, the owner, and manager to hear resident issues and concerns and to obtain owner/manager plans to address them. I will also ensure that your father’s housing issues are received and addressed by Bacon’s owner/manager.”
While the statement suggests action is being taken for her father, Howell remains skeptical. “What about the other residents? What is the plan? What is the protocol? What needs to change?” she asked.
A Tragic Example of Neglect
According to Jasmine, During the meeting with management, an alarming incident occurred: a woman was found deceased in her apartment on the first floor—two days after passing away.
“I do not think they are taking care of their tenants properly,” Howell said. “It is a senior living facility, but it isn’t really assisted living, so they don’t check in on people. Some of these residents don’t have family members advocating for them. Someone should be checking on them.”
Call for Action
The conditions at Bacon Retirement Community raise urgent questions about the treatment of elderly residents in Richmond. Should city officials enforce stricter regulations on privately owned low-income housing? Should there be regular welfare checks for seniors?
For now, residents and their families are demanding better conditions and transparency from property management. But without external oversight and accountability, the seniors of Bacon Retirement Community remain at risk—waiting for hot water, waiting for heat, and, most importantly, waiting to be heard.
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